• SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    12
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    11 months ago

    Not really. The first ones were quite expensive, and it was uncommon to have one on your person at all times like we now do with smartphones.

    • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      11 months ago

      Yes really, if your job requires lots of calculations you’d be stupid not to have one, even back when they were expensive.

      Every machinist I know, even the crusty old ones, carry a calculator in their pocket. It’s indispensable. Why wouldn’t you carry one if you need it all the time?

      • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        11 months ago

        Pretty sure the teacher wasn’t assuming that every single child in class was going to be a machinist.

        In fact, most people aren’t machinists.

        • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          11 months ago

          And yet my point stands: if you need to do a lot of calculations at your job, you’d be stupid not to have a calculator in your pocket. And if you don’t, then the time it takes to find a calculator will be negligible.

            • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              11 months ago

              Uh what, that’s literally the point lol. The “you won’t have a calculator” has been complete and utter bullshit for literally over half a century.

              • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                edit-2
                11 months ago

                Bro, smartphones haven’t even existed for 20 years

                You’re talking as if everybody was carrying around pocket calculators the day they were invented

                • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  arrow-down
                  1
                  ·
                  11 months ago

                  No actually I literally specified people whose jobs require doing a lot of calculations lmao

                  If your job required lots of calculations, and you heard about this fancy new thing called a pocket calculator, wouldn’t you go out and buy one?

                  • SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    arrow-down
                    1
                    ·
                    11 months ago

                    Of course. But, again, that’s not everyone. Not everyone went out and bought pocket calculators and carried them around everywhere.